Babur, The First Moghul In India

1st Moghul emperor

 

From 1526 to 1530

 

This is the first historical, biographical saga of the Moghuls, unfolding the wealth of Kabul in Afghanistan, beginning with a small hill called Gulkhaneh where the Biblical Cain is believed to be buried. Babur traces his history back to Tamerlane, sixth in line from him as his paternal ancestor, and fifth in line from Genghis Khan as his maternal.   He is the king of Kabul, before he conquers India.  After his conquest, he sends his son to Agra for the safety of the family of a Raja who is slain in the battle.  The family of the Raja is so impressed by the courtesy of the young prince that one Rani of Gwalior presents him with a gift of the famous diamond, Koh-I-Noor.  Babur establishes his courts at Agra and Delhi.  Gardens, palaces, mosques and colleges are built under his supervision, and he orders the construction of great highways from Agra to Kabul.  Babur is a poet and a mystic, valorous as well as compassionate.  He is an emperor who cares not for gold and jewels, but the jewels of knowledge in wisdom and understanding.  For his valor, Babur wins the title of Babur, The Lion.  When he gives away the wealth of the five kingdoms to the poor, he earns another title, Kalendar-king.  Finally, for his conquests in building a great empire, he is remembered as the First Great Moghul of India.  When he dies at Agra at the age of forty-eight, his empire extends eastward from Kabul and Badakhshan through the Punjab to the borders of Bengal.  His death is as poetic as his life, for he immolates his own life to save the life of his beloved son, Humayun.  A Moghul and a mystic, he dies as he has lived, cultivating love and discipline, which sparkle to this day in his last injunction to his son.

 

‘Do naught against thy brothers, even though they may deserve it.’


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